Minutes of Chapter Meeting - April 29, 2000
Society of Glass Beadmakers
Mid-Atlantic Chapter
Saturday, April 29, 2000
Winter Gathering Meeting
Present: Renee Lessner, Vice-President
Karen King, Treasurer and Membership Coordinator
Debby Weaver, Secretary
Janet Olsen, Web Mistress
and about 20 other members and guests
Renee Lessner opened the meeting at about 10:30 with a warm welcome to all. She explained that Kate was unable to attend
today’s meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Minutes: Renee announced that in the interest of saving time, minutes would not be read at today’s meeting. All current
members should have received the minutes soon after January’s meeting, if they did not or would like a copy, a number of
printed copies were available.
Debby announced that she would be resigning as secretary after this meeting. Debby and Ann Davis will be coordinating the
activities for the 2002 Gathering. There will a number of things that will be started this summer. Because of this, she would like
to help someone else take over her duties. Linda Spence has agreed to do this and run for Secretary in the forthcoming
elections.
Treasurers Report: Karen reported that there was a balance of $3,381 in the account - but there are a number of outstanding
bills that will lower that amount to about $2000. She asked the membership to consider how that amount of money should be
used - scholarships, donations, other ideas to promote our mission of promoting glass bead making. Karen also reported that
Jim Smirich’s class was filled (12) with two people coming from way out of town for the class. (She had placed the class notice
on both our web page and the national SGB page.) We made a profit of $200 on the class which tells us that our fees are
reasonable . Lisa St. Martin’s class has 4 people signed up for it at this time. This is out first weekend class and it is hoped that
we will be able to fill it (May 20-21, Columbia Art Center.)
Debby moved and Janet Olsen seconded the motion that we buy “Y” splits or a manifold system for our classes to use. This
motion was passed by the attending membership. Karen will look into the most practical way to go. It was also suggested that
she explore the purchase of a bead annealer for the classes. Mike DeMasi is willing to work with us on these purchases if we
want him to.
There was some discussion about linking with other chapters to make it worth it for artists to come to our area to offer
classes. The link with the Washington Bead Bazaar for Jim Smirch and Gail Crossman-Moore seemed to be a good one.
Please contact Karen if there is someone special you would like to take a class from. Also, please let Karen know how you felt
about the class you have taken - especially the format of the class. This last one with Jim was mostly lecture and demonstration.
Others have had more hands on activities.
Members Forum: It was announced that Wale Apparatus has a new email address: wale@fast.net. Their web site can still be
found by searching for www.waleapparatus.com. Mike told us that their new e-commerce site is now up and running. He is out
of catalogs right now, but everything is available on line.
Diane T asked if anyone would be interested in a class/demo/information about precious metal clay. There is a certified
instructor in College Park. Several people said they had taken classes already and really found it exciting. It was decided that
Karen would talk to Diane further and it would be decided if this would be a good idea for our July meeting and be something
we would want to offer a workshop in.
Renee suggested that we contact Liz Mears (Torpedo Factory) about coming and doing a class/demo of glass blowing at the
torch - maybe for a class in early September. This suggestion was met with enthusiasm and Renee will contact her and see
what could be arranged. It was suggested that she might prefer to hold the class at her studio at the Torpedo Factory.
Other suggested instructors were:
Kristina Logan and Heather Trimlett - they often teach together
Leah Fairbanks
Sage and Tom Holland
Web Page Report: Janet Olsen reported on the progress she has been making with the web page (which has been
considerable!)
Whenever you order anything from Amazon.com, please do so through the MASGB web page - we receive a percentage
of the sale. Eventually, sales may pay for the web site - or, at least, defray some of the expenses.
The Pittsburgh Group will be given space on the page as the page is a regional page rather then a chapter-only page.
Janet will take digital pictures of work after the meeting to be placed on the members gallery page (they are now there -
please take a look.)
Remember to use the message board to send messages, get answers to questions, set up rides to shows, find out about
shows - anything of interest.
There has been a request for pictures of the officers to be posted on the page - this is under consideration.
Elections: Renee reminded us that elections will be coming up in the fall. Officers are requested to submit job descriptions.
These will be publicized so members can consider whether or not they would be interested in running for the position.
Jinx Garza will be in charge of the election process - please send nominations to her. If you are nominating someone other then
yourself, please contact them and see if they are willing to run. We will be adding the position of “program chair” to the slate.
There should be a slate in place by the July meeting.
Pittsburgh Chapter: Diana Dugina reported that a group of bead/glass enthusiasts have begun a new SGB chapter for the
Pittsburgh area. With a couple teachers and Touchstone Center for Crafts in that area, this a natural area for growth. They have
already held 2 organizational meetings, elected officers and will hold their first big, kick-off meeting May 21. Guest
demonstrators for that meeting will be Melissa Montini and Michael Magnifico. For more information, contact Diana.
Regional Report: Lisa gave us a report of information she has received as Regional Director:
Current national membership as of mid-March is over 690 - 23 of the members are from out of the USA and represent 9
different countries.
At this Gatherings, presenters must consent to having their presentations video tapes for the SGB archives.
Bob Aruelis has donated a didium lens for the camera at the Gathering.
JoElla has arranged a photographer to be on site for the Gathering - he is donating all the oxygen for the event.
The SGB will be getting vendors licenses for all those participating in the Bazaar - they may be able to also offer credit card
services (more on this to come.)
Those interested in being part of the SGB booth at the Rosen Show should look for the application in the July newsletter -
the Bead Release.
There are still tables available at the Gathering (for the Bazaar).
Nancy Tobey is in charge of Regional matters. She has said that there will soon be handbook for chapters with information
on start-up procedures. There has much discussion about getting tax exempt status - they are checking into a blanket exemption
for official chapters.
There have been some new chapters formed - the SGB is growing!
Pittsburgh, PA
No-Name Chapter ?
North Group in Minnesota
The Northern California Chapter is the largest in the country
There has been discussion that the web page links be for members only.
National Elections - all present officers have agreed to run again. Regional Directors are also elected positions - see the
Bead Release for nomination information if you wish to nominate anyone. Lisa will be running again.
There is a new site on the web page - “Call for Entry”
Scholarships are available for the Gathering - check out the web page for more information. There have also been some
class changes. They are also posted on the web page.
The NCAGG (National Capital Area Glass Guild) is sponsoring a Glass Art Festival at Glen Echo Park on Saturday, June 17,
from 12:00 - 5:00pm. All types of glass work will be demonstrated and for sale. Debby Weaver and Marianne Filiaggi will be
representing lampwork bead making. There may be other folks involved also. Mark this event on your calendar. Contact
Debby or Lisa for more information.
Northern Virginia Bead Bazaar: Debby reported that she had been contacted about participating again in the Bazaar. The
membership agreed that we should do this and that we should apply for 3 tables this time. Application fee is $120 and will
divided among those who decide to show. Libby Hecker has volunteered to help Debby with organizing this event. More
details will be sent out later.This is a good opportunity to participate in an event like this with little overhead and only limited
commitment of time.
LUNCH BREAK: Shopping with Mike
PRESENTATION: Penny Diamonte from the Beadazzled shops
Penny has been in the business of collecting, assembling, buying and selling of beads for 30 years. She began like the many of
us by mostly collecting and assembling beads into jewelry. But for the last 10-15 years she has been officially in the business of
buying and selling beads. She and her family own the Beadazzled shops found in Baltimore, MD, Tysons Corners, VA, and
Dupont Circle, DC.
Penny began her presentation with lots of helpful information about being a shop owner and how she works with bead makers:
She does most of her buying at shows like the one at the Gathering because she can see a lot of work in a short amount of time.
Artists who wish to approach a shop should call ahead and make an appointment - owners get hundreds of calls and this
eats into their limited time. It is very helpful to send good color prints, scans, postcards with clearly marked WHOLESALE
prices. Then make a follow up call but DO NOT “bug” the owner.
Some of her artists send her a box of beads, she picks out those she wants, and she returns the rest. But this type of
arrangement must be agreed to before the beads are sent.
Artists should always do their homework - check out the vendor - see if they are really who you want to carry your work
and if it is an appropriate location.
Look for places that sell contemporary craft/art work
Don’t try to talk a buyer into something that they are not sure will sell - they know their market.
Glass galleries on the West Coast are really lacking in glass beads and glass jewelry.
Be ORGANIZED!!! Have prices clearly decided and priced (marked) before talking to a buyer.
Any literature you produce or demos you do will help to educate the public - both on the process and in appreciation of
what you do.
Buyers will respond to obvious complex, detailed work or to a new glass or color.
Remember - there are two types of buyers - those that collect beads and those that are jewelry designers that will use the
beads in their designs.
If you make beads and have someone who has made fantastic use of them in their jewelry (fiber, etc) see if you can
photograph the work to use as part of your publicity. This is especially true if you do not often assemble your beads into
finished work - or want to show a more sophisticated use of your work. It will give people ideas of how to use your work.
Mark your work at least double your wholesale price. If the person who buys it charges more, you have no control over
that. Do not undersell your buyers. If you sell for less, even in your studio, it will get back to your buyers and they will probably
drop you from their shop.
To acquire a name in the bead world, you need to enter and be accepted in juried shows.
Keep a resume of all collections, galleries, shops and shows you have participated in.
Select how to “spend” your time. Some tasks may be more cost effective to have others do for you.
Penny goes to the Whole Bead Show, Lewis Wilson’s Crystal Myth Shows, and the Gathering to look for handmade,
quality art glass beads. These would be good shows to participate in.
Consignment is a good way to get into the door in a gallery but keeping track of inventory for both shop and artist can be a
hassle. Plus, the artist takes all the risks. Only do consignment if the location is worth the trouble.
Do not bother with wholesale orders of less than $300. This will eliminate the hobbyist that claims to need wholesale prices.
Penny was asked about how to figure out what a good price would be for your beads. Using Leah Fairbanks as an example,
she told how Leah first started out charging $10/hour, went up to $20, and now is at $60. Penny knows of some people that
charge $150 per hour. This fee is based on time at the torch to actually create the bead, but includes phone calls, materials,
getting gas, gas, paper work, etc - everything that is involved with making a bead.
Penny then gave us a number of charts to help us determine our costs and fees:
Overhead - (track these expenses for 5-6 months to determine and average - these are only to be used as a sample.)
Rent $200
Utilities 50
Insurance 25
Vehicle (.32/mile) 50
Phone calls 25
Postage and Freight 50
Office Supplies 25
Tools and Equipment 50
Fuel 50
Advertising 50
Professional Services 25
Total $600
Work out how many hours you usually work in a month and divide this figure by the number of hours.
$600 ÷ 80 hours = $7.50 hour
$600 ÷ 160 hours = $3.75 hour
$600 ÷ 200 hours = $3.00 hour
Then set an hourly pay rate for yourself - $15/hour, $30/hour - whatever.
Take that hourly rate x number of hours you work per month = an amount. Then add your monthly expenses to it. Divide that
amount by the number of hours you work per month and that will give you your overhead fee:
$15/hr x 80 hrs = $1200 + $600/mon = $1800 ÷ 80 hours = $22.50 hour at the torch
(This will change if you use different rates of pay, and/or different amounts of time)
To figure out the unit price of a single bead, use the following formula:
Cost of materials .50
Overhead (10mins x $18.75/hour) 3.125
3.625 (3.75) cost of item
plus 15% wholesale selling costs .469
plus 10% profit .363
Wholesale price of bead $4.46 ($4.50)
Double for retail price $8.92 ($9.00)
Penny also addressed the decision to do local and out-of-town shows. When all factors are considered, sometimes the
Out-Of-Town show can really cost you money. Always consider all aspects of a show before deciding to do it.
Local Out-Of-Town
Booth fees 100 300
Equipment 0 50
Electricity 15 25
Hotel 0 250
Food 15 150
Travel 20 165 (if driving)
Promotion 25 25
Freight 0 0
Display 25 25
Lost production time ($200/day) 200 (1 day) 1000 (5 days)
Total Expenses $400 $2400
Are you really making any money??
Sales $1000 $3000
40% cost of goods sold -400 -1200
$600 $1800
Show expenses (above) -400 -2400
Profit/Loss $200 -$600
Respectfully submitted by Debby Weaver
Reminders!!!
Dues were due in March - $15 for the year. Please send to Karen King as soon as possible!!!
There are still openings in Lisa’s class! Call Karen right away if you want to take it! It sounds exciting!